| 2025/02/04 |
|
Media Statement NELSPRUIT – The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has welcomed the sentencing of a poacher. Simon Fenias Mbombi (63), a Mozambican national residing in Limpopo, was sentenced on Friday, 31 January 2025 by the Skukuza Regional Court for poaching related offences that he committed back in 2016. The court heard that on 09 July 2016 around 01:00, Field Rangers of the SANPARKS received information about possible poachers that had entered Matjulwane area in the Kruger National Park. Subsequent to that, the Rangers then followed the information whilst tracing these intruders and at around 06:15, two male poachers were spotted and one of them was carrying a hunting rifle in his hand. A helicopter from SANPARKS as well as a dog handler were summoned to assist in apprehending the suspects. Though one ran into a herd of elephants then disappeared, the other one was unlucky as he was apprehended. The police were also alerted and they attended the scene. During the arrest of the man, a hunting rifle as well as some live ammunition and an axe, were found in his possession. The man was charged accordingly and the state presented a watertight case against him hence he was convicted and sentenced. The sentence was handed down as follows: – Count 1 (trespassing at the Kruger National Park), the accused was sentenced to two (02) years imprisonment. – Count 2 (conspiracy to commit crime), the accused was sentenced to four (04) years imprisonment. – Count 3 (possession of unlicensed firearm), the accused was sentenced to five (05) years imprisonment. – Count 4 (possession of firearm with intention to commit crime), the accused was sentenced to four (04) years imprisonment. – Count 5 (possession of ammunition), the accused was sentenced to two (02) years imprisonment. – Count 6 (possession of dangerous weapon), the accused was sentenced to one (01) year imprisonment. The court further ordered that the sentences in Count 4 and 5 to run concurrently with Count 3. The accused will therefore spend effective 12 years behind bars. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi applauded the team from SANPARKS, SAPS Detectives, the Prosecution team as well as the Judiciary as their collaborative efforts assisted in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
Ends
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService |
|
|
